"Hit me. Kill me. Make your choice. Be the tyrant the students know you as or the Death Eater you once were."
"It's hardly you against the world, Valentine. I think you have fewer enemies than you see."
"Don't underestimate the size of my mouth!"
"No! No! Stop! I have to find Olivia! Why won't you let me look for her? What if she thinks we forgot about her? We have to find her, we have to find her now!"
"Okay, that's just wrong."
"You are not worth the effort of an insult."
"Even if Leah can be childish at times, she cares about you so much. I think that's part of being a kid. You're not afraid to show people how you feel."
"I think you may be one of the most cynical children I have ever met."
"I punched a window."
"I know I'm the last person you would want to hear this from but...I'm sorry. About your friend."
"...Buckbeak's been sentenced to death!"
"How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?"
"I'm a liar too. You don't know what I'm really like. I've been planning against you since before we even met. You don't know me at all."
"Because it seems to me that someone who is so obviously disgusted, would have turned me in the first chance they had."
"Your parents were quite interesting people, you know. And those eyes of yours. A Lestrange trademark to be proud of. A symbol of your lineage."
"I can accept that. We can't all be interesting, then nobody would be."
"Taking the form of a giant spectral dog, it is among the darkest omens in our world. It is an omen...of death."
"The only thing impressive about you is your bounds of endless arrogance."
"I've quite a lot of information for you to take in but I trust you'll keep up just fine."
"Careful now, professor. Look at me like that and I might just spill all my frivolous hopes and dreams."
Valentine's eyes opened to the high ceiling of her bedroom. She groaned and rolled over, pressing her face into the pillow. Oh God, how she missed sleeping through the night. She couldn't understand how she took such things for granted before. She didn't even know how she was still functioning at this point. The body needed sleep to perform properly, it was a basic fact. She was starting to think she was running on spite and determination alone.
She laid there until the position started hurting her neck and she had to roll back over. Out her large windows everything was still pitch black outside. It could have been even three in the morning.
Groaning again, she sat up and half stumbled out of the bed. The floor was cold under her feet but she paid it no mind. She pulled out the candle and matches from her desk and lit it with a yawn. Then she wandered over to the tall bookcase against the wall adjacent to her bed, squinting at the titles through strands of dark curls. If she wasn't going to get to sleep at least she could keep herself amused.
She selected a book and took it back to her bed, setting the candle down on her bedside. She read into the morning, drifting off into sleep as the sun was just starting to glow.
She was awoken maybe an hour later from Draco knocking excitedly on her door and scrambling inside.
"Val! It's the Quidditch Cup Today!"
-Pretending to Live-
"Val, please."
"No."
"Val-"
"No."
"Valentine!"
"I said no."
"If you don't put your hair up it's going to be a disaster once you're up in the Minister's box."
"I don't care."
Narcissa had been following her niece around the bedroom in circles as she changed and prepared for the Quidditch World Cup, insisting Valentine wear this and bring that. Now, she was stalking about with a deep frown and a hairbrush in one hand.
"Val, be the logical girl I know you are. It's sure to be very windy at that height and you know what that does to your hair."
"Did you miss the part where I said I didn't bloody care?" Valentine tugged on her coat and started doing up the buttons.
"You used to let me do your hair." Narcissa sighed.
"Yes. When I was three years old and had limited ability to stop you. But you see, as I'm much older now, I'm telling you no."
"Just like your mother." Narcissa muttered under her breath, crossing her arms over her chest.
Valentine cast her an annoyed look over her shoulder as she sat on the bed to pull on her stockings.
"Val, really. You're making this out to be a bigger problem than it needs to be."
"It is my hair." Valentine snapped at her. "I'll decide what is done with it and if that's nothing then so be it. I don't even want to go, to begin with!"
"I'm sorry but I don't want Draco going alone."
"Oh, so then we both agree that Draco going with his father is just as bad as him going alone?"
"That is not what I'm saying, young lady." Narcissa's steely gaze hardened.
"If you're so bloody concerned then why can't you go with them?"
"You know why. I promised Rose I would stay with her and try and help with Leah." Narcissa shot her a look. "After what happened last time we both decided it was a bad idea."
"Whatever." Valentine huffed and rolled her eyes, grabbing her boots and hurrying towards the door.
"Val, your hair!" Narcissa called after her.
Valentine slammed the door shut behind her and ignored the frustrated shouting from the other side as she marched down the hallway. Narcissa always meant well but sometimes her nagging grated on Valentine's nerves like nails on a chalkboard.
When she reached the main sitting room, Blaze and Liam were already waiting, all dressed up and chatting excitedly about the night of fun they were sure to have.
"Oh, it's going to be awesome." Blaze grinned. "The Bulgarians are going to crush the Irish! Just you wait and see!"
"No doubt about it on my end, man." Liam agreed, fully engaged in the conversation. "I mean, they've got the Viktor Krum on their side. I don't see how they could lose with that kind of skill. The man's a monster! A very buff monster!"
"Monster? More like a God living among us unworthy mortals!" Blaze raised both arms and then paused when he saw Valentine. "Oh, hey Val."
"How are you?" Asked Liam.
"Shut up." Valentine hissed at them coldly, making them both flinch.
She slumped down on the couch and started yanking on her shoes more aggressively than necessary.
"Okay then...guess quidditch really isn't for everyone." Blaze turned but to Liam. "So, Viktor Krum, right? God amongst men, right?"
"Hell yeah, he is." Draco was grinning from ear to ear as he entered, his father and William trailing behind him in quiet conversation. Draco headed straight for the other boys. "This is going to be awesome."
"Sure is." Liam reached up to touch his hair as if it was ever out of place. Then he leaned in and quietly spoke. "So, uh. What's wrong with Val?"
"Yeah, she almost bit our heads off just for saying hi." Said Blaze. "Okay, so not that usual, but did something happen?'
"Well, she probably just had another fight with mother over her hair." Draco snorted. "She doesn't even like quidditch let alone screaming crowds of quidditch fans. And in top of that, yesterday, when she visited Leah...she kind of put her hand through a window."
"Kind of?" Blaze arched a brow. "How exactly do you 'kind of' put your hand through a window?"
"How does Val do anything?"
"True." Blaze nodded.
"I can hear you, you know." Said Valentine and they froze, turning to look at her slowly.
"Uh..." Blaze grimaced. "Please, don't put my hand through a window next?"
"You're an idiot." Valentine scowled and slumped lower on the couch.
"And she hasn't been in a good mood since." Draco concluded.
"Sit up straight, will you." Lucius snapped at her. "You're acting like a sullen child."
"Well, I learnt from the best."
"Do not test my patience tonight, Valentine." Lucius glared down at her.
"Oh, wouldn't dream of it." Valentine drawled.
"So, um." Blaze cleared his voice. "You saw Leah, right. What's she been up to?"
"Barely eating. Barley sleeping. Barely talking." Valentine shrugged. "If it wasn't for such a stupid reason I might be enjoying this."
"Well, at least she's alive..." Blaze muttered under his breath. He dropped his chin to his chest as a downcast look crossed over his features. Liam elbowed him lightly.
"Hey, man. It was just a dream." Liam whispered.
"I know, but...I was just hoping she might actually come."
"Well, have fun everyone." Narcissa suddenly appeared in the doorway. She passed a look over the child. "Be safe now and behave yourselves."
"Of course, ma'am." Liam gave her a polite smile.
"Oh, would you look at that! Such nice manners." Narcissa cooed. "How ever do you put up with Val and Draco's brashness?"
"Mother, we're standing right here." Draco shot her a look.
-Pretending To Live-
Upon arriving at the stadium Valentine's ears were immediately filled with the rumbling of thousands of people in one place. They were in a section at the back of the arena, separate from the general attendees. Others milled about around them, politician's, foreign dignitaries and celebrities. All the people deemed too important to mix with the common spectators.
"I'm so excited!" Blaze was practically vibrating, staring about at the bustling crowd.
"We should go meet my grandfather." Said Liam. "He told me to go straight to our box."
"I've got no problem with that." Blaze grinned. "Let's go!"
"Alright." Liam turned to Draco and Valentine. "Met up after the match and Bulgaria turns the Irish into mincemeat?"
"Sure." Said Valentine, noticing that Draco was too busy gawking at everything to reply.
"Draco." Lucius's tone was quiet but severe. "Close your mouth before I do it for you."
"Sorry, father." Draco subconsciously inched closer to his cousin.
"See you later!" Blaze waved enthusiastically as he grabbed Liam's arm and pulled him into the crowd.
I seriously hope he's not planning on leading the way.
Quidditch had never been one of Valentine's interests and she never pretended otherwise. Though it was very likely her opinion was swayed due to Harry and Draco's participation in such a violent sport.
Perhaps, I'll actually enjoy this game, seeing as my attention won't be focused on Harry or Draco falling a several hundred-foot drop to their deaths. Who knows? Maybe I've been a fan all along and never noticed? Hmm. I doubt it.
"I have business to take care of." Said William before walking off without another word.
Lucius immediately turned on Valentine and Draco.
"Now, you two know well enough how to behave in a dignified manner." Lucius shot them both scathing glares. "We will be meeting the Minister himself and I expect you to act accordingly. If I see or hear anything unseemly from either of you, the consequences will be serious. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Sir." Replied Draco.
"Valentine?" Lucius's gaze settled darkly on her.
"Yes, understood." She huffed.
"Good." Lucius gave her one last glare and turned to lead the way. "Now, come along."
We're not puppies, thank you very much!
Valentine then watched as Draco hurried to match his father's pace.
Well. I'm not at least.
Draco shot a look over his shoulder at her, motioning for her to move quicker. Valentine suppressed a grumble as she did so.
Walking down a ramp and moving closer to the stands, the noise was almost deafening. Valentine only just heard the familiar voice.
"Blimey, dad!"
Oh, boy.
"How far up are we?"
Valentine looked up at the level above her own to find just what she'd expected. Harry, Hermione and the Weasley's.
All three of them are here? Forget everything about maybe enjoying this. The three of them almost always spell disaster.
"Well, put it this way," Lucius must have heard them as well as he immediately made his way over to the railing. "if it rains, you'll be the first to know."
He seemed to tower over the group despite standing literally below them. Valentine supposed his arrogance alone added a few good inches.
Draco wore a wide grin at his father's words. Valentine did not. It was no secret that she did not get along with her uncle.
Lucius turned and continued walking, decidedly finished with his insults, but apparently, Draco was not.
"Father, Val and I are in the Minister's box." He said. "By personal invitation of Cornelius Fudge himself."
"Don't boast, Draco." Valentinesaw the cane coming but wasn't close enough to stop it. The silver snake head smacked against her cousin's stomach and he flinched more out of fear than pain. Lucius didn't seem to notice and carried on with his belittling. "There's no need to with these people."
Harry grabbed Hermione's shoulder and moved to turn her away so they could leave when Lucius raised his cane once again and brought it down on his shirt sleeve, keeping him in his place quite literally, pinning him to the railing.
Valentine bit at the inside of the cheek, fighting the instinct to do something she would regret.
"Do enjoy yourself, won't you?" Lucius spoke snidely. "While you can."
Lucius fixed Harry with a bitter smile and then released his hold, Mr Weasley quickly moving the boy on.
I'm sorry? What? While you can? While you bloody can? What the hell does that mean? If you're up to something uncle and if it's something that endangers Harry again, I'll be holding you personally responsible for ruining my entire life!
Draco wore his own devious smirk as he followed his father.
Draco you little wart! You know what's going on here, don't you!
Valentine bit down harder on the inside of her mouth. This reeked of some kind of underhanded plot. And what with how Draco and Lucius had been acting lately, she knew something had to be up.
Mr Lovat said he had to take care of something but what could that be at a time like this? It's a freaking quidditch match! Since when did he even like stuff like this? Never that's when! What the hell is going on!
Despite her racing mind, Valentine had no choice but to follow after Draco and her uncle up the steep flight of metal stairs.
They were about half up the stadium itself when they reached their destination and Lucius dragged them straight for the Minister.
He was the kind of man who looked like he could go from jolly to furious in a second flat.
"Ah! Lucius! Good to see you." The Minister and Lucius exchanged smiles and a handshake. "And you must be Draco and Valentine. I've heard much about you! It's very good to meet you both."
What Valentine knew of Cornelius Fudge didn't give her a lot of hope. She wasn't overly well versed in the political scene but she had heard enough over the years to know that he had started out strong. People were very fond of him. He appeared down-to-earth and fully focused on putting the common man first, but as things changed as the position took its inevitable toll and he started to care more about things like poll ratings than anything else. Valentine wasn't exactly thrilled to meet the man who had agreed with her uncle that Buckbeak should be executed. For all she knew, he only agreed because Lucius held all his power and wealth over the other man's head.
"Good to meet you too sir." Draco nodded back politely, offering him his hand.
Fudge laughed gleefully at him and took it. Then his eyes turned to Valentine.
"Excited for the game?"
"Not particularly." She replied dryly.
"Valentine." Lucius scolded her lightly, she could feel the effort he was putting in to restrain himself. "Do forgive her, Minister."
"Nothing to forgive." The Minister chuckled. "Now, feel free to take your seats. The match will begin in a few minutes."
At the Minister's words Valentine could practically feel her cousin radiating excitement. It was a change from his usual jerky, whining, petulance.
Before they could get very far, Valentine felt a firm grasp on her shoulder, holding her in place. Lucius leaned down from behind her, hissing in her ear to be heard over the roar of the arena.
"Watch it, you little ingrate." His words were as cold and sharp as she knew his eyes would be if she could see them.
He shoved her forward and she bumped into Draco's back. She threw him a glare over his shoulder but he was already pretending like nothing had happened.
I hate it when he does that.
A few moments after taking their seats looking out over the field, the stadium was suddenly streaked with green and white. The Irish team zipped their way about through the air, setting off their fans like wild howling banshees. Fireworks were then thrown into the air and formed into the shape of a giant dancing leprechaun.
"That looks ridiculous." Draco laughed aloud.
The leprechaun only had a few moments of this happy waving and dancing before the Bulgarian team burst through it with their own brilliant red sparks.
"Val, it's him!" Draco grinned widely.
Draco shuffled forward in his seat, clapping wildly. Valentine rolled her eyes and slumped in hers. This was going to be a long night.
The Bulgarian team flew straight through the Irish, showing off a flurry of impressive mid-air stunts, the crowd screaming and hollering. The stadium wall itself gave a close-up view of the famous young seeker, Viktor Krum, displaying a live image of him for them all to see. Valentine watched it all with great apathy.
"KRUM, KRUM, KRUM!" The arena was filled with riotous chanting.
Now, this is ridiculous.
The Minister then stepped up to the edge of the box to address the crowd, pressing the tip of his wand to his neck to amplify his voice.
"Good evening! As Minister of Magic, it gives me great pleasure to welcome each and every one of you, to the finale of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup." He paused for a moment, the stadium falling silent in rapt anticipation. "Let the match begin!"
The Minister quickly flicked his wand away from his neck, a bright ball of light travelling across the field as the crowd once more burst into exciting screams.
Valentine slipped a hand into her coat pocket and pulled out a small book.
"Are you serious?" Draco noticed what she was holding. "You're really not going to watch?"
"No, I am not. Now, try to keep the screaming in my ear to a minimum, please."
-Pretending To Live-
When the game finally concluded, Valentine hardly noticed. She was getting to a good part of her book and had long since tuned out to the rumbling of the crowd. She didn't even know who had won the match. But when Lucius turned to his son and touched his shoulder, she took notice.
"It's time, Draco." His voice was stern and left no room for questions. "Take your cousin and leave."
What? Take me and leave?
"Yes, sir." Draco nodded and turned to Valentine. "Val, let's go meet up with the others."
This is what they've been hiding, isn't?
"Draco, what's going on?"
"I'll tell you later." Draco glanced at his father. "But right now we need to leave."
Valentine stayed put.
"Enjoy while you can?" She arched a brow at him. "What the hell are you planning?"
"It's not my plan, but I can't tell you anything right now, okay?" Draco grabbed her arm and tugged, eyes shining meaningfully. "Now, let's go. We have to move before everyone else does."
Valentine looked past Draco to where his father had been sitting but he was gone. She growled under her breath and allowed Draco to pull her to her feet, tucking her book back into her pocket.
Draco took point, leading her back down the way they came, walking faster than she was used to seeing him move. Peering out over the side of the stair railing, Valentine could see some kind of award ceremony going on.
Draco said we needed to move before everyone else did but no one is going anywhere just yet. What is going on?
Concern gnawed at Valentine's insides. This could mean nothing good.
Draco picked up speed and Valentine, trying to keep up, caught the toe of her boot on the metal grating and stumbled. She grabbed for the railing but then Draco was there, gripping her hand.
"Are you okay?" He asked, already pulling her along again.
"I'd be better if you would just tell me what's happening!" She shouted back.
"Just wait!"
Valentine frowned and could do nothing but let Draco tow her down to the exit and out of the stadium. It wasn't even the way they had come in. They were now surrounded by a sea of hundreds upon hundreds of tents set up by other attendees. The silence out here compared to the sounds of life inside the stadium we're like day and night.
"Draco!" Now, firmly on the ground, Valentine dug in her heels and yanked her hand from his grasp. "What is going on? We were supposed to be meeting Liam and Blaze but I don't recall any discussion concerning an actual location. How many people know about whatever the hell this is?"
"It's fine, Val." Draco half pleaded. "They know where to meet us. I'll explain everything there."
"Well, I don't feel like waiting.
"I can't. Alright?" Draco insisted and glanced about at the empty tents nervously. "Father said I couldn't. He's trusting me with this, Val. He put his faith in me."
Valentine's chest twinged this sympathy. He looked like a little kid who just wanted to prove himself to his father. He was.
"Whatever." Valentine's eyes softened but a faction, she crossed her arms over her chest with a scowl. "But just where the hell are we going?"
"Over there." Draco pointed out across the tents and over to the large expanse of nothing sitting atop a hill. "And we have to go now."
"Let's go then." Valentine grumbled and let Draco take a hold of her hand again.
The two ran through the tents and luggage and campfires littering the field. Valentine looked around at them all. So many.
So many people. God. The majority of the magical community of Europe is here. Including Harry. What's going to happen? Why the hell didn't I figure it all out days ago? I could have gotten it out of Draco, I know I could have.
They passed a tent with a child's toy train set sitting just outside, the bright paint job coloured even brighter by a nearby fire. It made her stomach clench uncomfortably.
She tried to put herself in the shoes of her uncle. How could one use an event like this to their own advantage?
He already failed once and lost his position on the Board of Governors because of it. Is he really going to risk going directly after Harry again? Sure, it's not public knowledge, but both Dumbledore and Harry know at the very least. And however arrogant my uncle might be, he knows that he's already lost to the both of them in the past. People like Lucius Malfoy only take risks they think are worth it. What hell could be worth it? And why here? Why now?
"This should be far enough." Draco's voice yanked Valentine from her dread as she realised there were no longer running and were now standing so far from where they'd begun that the campfires looked like stars glittering in the distance. "Liam and Blaze should already be here soon."
"Now," Valentine turned on him, wiping a thin sheen of sweat from her brow. "You're going to tell me what's going on. No more excuses."
Draco looked reluctant but not as though he was going to fight her.
"Father...he really wouldn't tell me much. He just said something was going to happen tonight. Something to put all the traitors and MudBloods in their places. Mr Lovat, Liam's grandfather, even Crabbe and Goyle's and Parkinson's parents. They're all in on it too-"
Oh.
"You're talking about Death Eaters." Valentine forced a smile onto her face.
Snap.
Draco nodded in confirmation. He swallowed deeply and continued.
"And we...we couldn't tell you because father said the less who know the better."
"Well, he's not wrong. For once." Valentine sighed and pulled a hand back through her hair. "I knew you were hiding something the second I saw you both in the garden together."
"Y-you saw?" Draco spluttered.
"It's not exactly a common sight, Draco."
He didn't respond to that. Just stared at his feet and mumbled more about how Liam and Blaze were supposed to be here by now. Then like clockwork, Valentine heard Blaze whining in the distance.
"Slow down! I hate running!"
"We're already late!"
"That's not my fault!"
"Uh. It totally is. You're the one who insisted he couldn't hold it!"
"When you gotta go you gotta go, alright!"
"Would you keep it down." Draco hissed as they came into view.
"Sorry, we took so long." Liam huffed. "Someone had to stop for a bathroom break."
"Shut up!"
"Blaze." Valentine's sharp tone instantly silenced him.
Liam dabbed at the sweat on his face with his sleeve and looked to Draco.
"Does she...?"
"She knows." Liam nodded.
"Know what?" Blaze panted. "How come everyone knows what the hell is going on but me?"
"Isn't that how things usually are for you?" Liam quipped.
"Well, yeah, but not because of some big secret! So, why are we out here? I wanted to watch to the end!"
"Did your father say what they'd be doing exactly?" Valentine asked Draco.
"I think his exact words were 'We're going to remind them to fear their betters'."
"And my grandfather said that it would make people face the truth again like they did in the war." Said Liam.
"Right." Blaze drawled. "So, what the bloody hell does that mean?"
"Just shut up and wait." Said Draco. "It should start soon.
"Yeah, but what?"
Then, as if reacting to Blaze's own words, a scream carried on the wind reached them, accompanied by a fire in the distance that seemed to grow.
"This is it." Said Draco.
Something buried in the back if his voice told Valentine that he didn't want this.
What had once been so quiet was now a roaring ocean of panic and chaos. The screams grew in volume and number as small dark dots dashed around in a frenzied fear and Valentine's heart dropped into a deep and dark pit of her stomach.
Harry's down there.
"Dang..." Blaze gaped at the scene.
Valentine forced a smirk onto her face, knowing it looked more natural then it felt.
"I always thought screams associated with the Dark Lord would be louder and more, shall I say desperate?" She hummed thoughtfully.
"They seem pretty desperate to me." Draco muttered under his breath.
"Did you say the Dark Lord?" Blaze was staring at Valentine in shock.
"That's what they're doing." Liam explained, tone dull. "Reminding everyone of him."
"Father always said he'd be back." Draco spoke, practically a whisper.
Valentine glanced at him. His fists were clenched, his teeth were anchored to his bottom lip.
He doesn't want to be here. Or see this. Or be a part of this.
Valentine looked at the others. They looked no more certain than Draco. Liam was better at hiding it than Draco and Blaze but she could still sense it. They believed what their parents told them, but they had never imagined a scene like this. Things like war were just stories from their parents' past. It had nothing to do with them. Well, now it did.
It's quite cowardly really. How they will simply bow to the whims of their guardians without a second thought, just like our families before us did for Voldemort. It's a vicious cycle. And yet they don't know any better. They're just being children listening to those in charge of them. Children like any other. Except they aren't like others, not really. I promise that one day this will all stop and you won't have to see something like this ever again. I promise that you'll see that how we've been raised to think is wrong.
"He will return." Valentine stepped towards her bright eyes burning as if she was already seeing their futures before them. "His followers will gather once more to serve him and we will be lucky enough to have that chance. As Death Eaters. Those of us smart enough to know what is right will thrive. And the others can burn."
The boys stared at her like she was no different from the fire spreading across the sea of tents and swallowing them whole, lighting the night like day. The echo of screams washed over them too as people fled for their lives under the watch of four children on a distant hill.
Valentine laughed aloud to mask the slight tremors in her hands and the urge to let her smile fall. Harry was in that sea of fire and all she could do was watch.
Someone will thrive when this is over. And it won't be Death Eater's.